Previewed for the first time last year, at the 2010 edition of the Beijing Motor Show, the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe four door coupe seems to be a fierce rival for the second generation Mercedes Benz CLS Class, probably the most successful four door coupe available today and also competes Audi’s A7 Sportback.
What’s really exciting about the new 6 Series Gran Coupe is that the production version is almost completely similar to the concept car unveiled last year, the German carmaker choosing to build the car without reducing the great impression produced by the Gran Coupe concept at the Chinese motor show. And for those expecting major surprises, I’ve got some bad news, because the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t feature any extravagant styling elements.
The car looks like a mixture between the 6 Series Coupe and the new 5 Series, featuring the aggressive front fascia of the luxury coupe and a beautiful sporty silhouette, just like any BMW fan out there was expecting. The rear part is also sporty and elegant at the same time, just like the two door coupe.
What differentiates the new 6 Series Gran Coupe from its German competitors, the Mercedes Benz CLS and the Audi A7 Sportback is the car’s silhouette, which looks more like a sedan than a coupe, the hood’s shape at the rear being a little more sporty than on the 5 Series. And the brand’s enthusiasts will also be able to spot the classic BMW C-pillar shape featuring the famous “Hofmeister Kick” signature door. Of course, there will also be some voices claiming the new 6 Series Gran Coupe is nothing but a 5 Series with a 6 Series front fascia, but I like what BMW did with their new car and I’d say that the new model is a more practical version of the 6 Series Coupe, because the access to the rear seats is significantly improved by the two extra doors. And speaking of the car’s utility, even though the luggage space is the same as the Coupe, 460 liters, the foldable rear seat allows a better space management.
Regarding the car’s size, the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe has a total length of 5,007 mm (113 mm longer than the Coupe), the wheelbase also being increased by the same value, 113 mm, the Gran Cabrio’s being 2,968 mm. The decision to make the four door version larger was taken in order to improve space for the passengers riding in the back.
The car is scheduled to make world debut next year, at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.